Vancouver awarded first-ever PWHL expansion team as this season’s playoff race heats up

The GIST: It’s happening. Well, two things are happening: The PWHL is expanding, officially naming Vancouver as its seventh franchise on Wednesday, and this season’s on-ice action returns from the international break tomorrow. A women’s hockey double whammy? Yes, please.

PWHL Vancouver will hit the ice next season: The league is less than two years old, but women’s hockey is thriving — especially in Vancouver: 19,038 fans showed up for the city’s January 8th Takeover Tour tilt, the fourth-largest turnout in league history. Good thing the new squad will play in the 17K-seater Pacific Coliseum.

• Even better? The team, which will be called PWHL Vancouver until branding is finalized, will be the league's first squad to be the primary tenant of their rink. Absolutely love to see it.

All six teams in postseason contention as play resumes: There are only nine games left on the schedule, but the playoff picture is far from settled. The Montréal Victoire have already punched their postseason ticket (the only team to do so thus far) and currently hold the league’s top spot ahead of their archrival, the Toronto Sceptres.

• From there, the standings are pretty messy with only two points separating the Boston Fleet in third and the defending champ Minnesota Frost in fifth. The NY Sirens are technically still in the mix, but they’ll need a bonafide miracle to make the playoffs.

• All to say, fluff those couch cushions because the final week of regular-season action will be absolute cinema. Puck yeah.